1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a formidable, irascible old man who frightened the neighborhood children
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2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
running a marathon is a formidable undertaking
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of formidable
Measles is a formidable and extremely contagious virus.
—
Dylan Scott, Vox, 18 Mar. 2025
The Alien Enemies Act’s text and history present formidable legal hurdles for the Trump administration proving that Tren de Aragua is at war with the U.S.
—Daniel Tichenor, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2025
His new feature ably captures the Looney Tunes spirit, which is something our world can always use more of — and which is a far more formidable endeavor than might at first seem.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
Buttigieg could be a formidable player in 2028, in which the early Democratic field of potential candidates could include 2024 losing candidate Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, among many others.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formidable
Dylan Scott, Vox, 18 Mar. 2025
The Alien Enemies Act’s text and history present formidable legal hurdles for the Trump administration proving that Tren de Aragua is at war with the U.S.
—Daniel Tichenor, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2025
His new feature ably captures the Looney Tunes spirit, which is something our world can always use more of — and which is a far more formidable endeavor than might at first seem.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
Buttigieg could be a formidable player in 2028, in which the early Democratic field of potential candidates could include 2024 losing candidate Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, among many others.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formidable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formidable
Adjective
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Back in August, Renner spoke about how his terrifying snowplow accident in January 2023 led to his daughter becoming a little more independent.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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The terrifying predicament happened Sunday, March 23, in a wooded area off Interstate 10 in LaPlace, the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a March 26 news release.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
19 Mar. 2025
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In an era that would otherwise be dominated by the same handful of rich, powerful clubs, disruption — different names challenging for and winning the prizes — has never been more difficult or more important.—
Oliver Kay,
The Athletic,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Granted that a 1 degree Celsius change in world average temperature can translate into a 4-degree Celsius increase in some of the most climate precarious countries, this last scenario is frightening.—
Mike O'Sullivan,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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While studying a rare species whose mating call appears to be the frightening shrieks the team has been hearing in the woods, the pair hired Kodiak (McHale) as their guide.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Join 27 others in the comments View Comments The more surgeries that are performed over a lifetime, the higher potential there is for traumatized tissue, Dr. Truesdale added, noting that revision operations are inherently more challenging.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN,
22 Mar. 2025
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Designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus, the 7,300-yard championship course is a masterpiece framed by lush vegetation and serene water features, creating a challenging yet visually stunning environment for experienced golfers.—
Carrie Coolidge,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Kwong grew up hearing stories of every kind about Manzanar—scary, sad, funny and infuriating.—
Rachel Ng,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 Mar. 2025
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The Athletic’s Steve Madeley has produced a slightly scary overview of the 16 months before the next World Cup starts.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This likely helped maintain its brand trust during tough times. 8.—
Paul Klein,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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The opening weekend miss for what was a very buzzy Sundance title back in 2023 about a troubled but ambitious bodybuilder follows controversy around its star and comes at a tough time for indie films in general.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The boys now harbor a terrible secret of their own.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
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But the point is, every team has a few terrible losses in the course of a season.—
Josh Yohe,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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These competitions are known for their rigorous judging processes and high standards, making their results highly respected in the wine industry.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
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By committing to transparency, upholding rigorous standards, and fostering open engagement, news organizations can rebuild their relationship with the public.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Formidable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formidable. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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